Why Nambour has the highest cancer rate on the Coast

Pam has been at the Daily Mercury since March 2013 and has also worked as a journalist in Batemans Bay and Wellington both in NSW. And yes, that does make her a Blues supporter. Growing up she moved around different places including Sydney, Moree, Wollongong and lived for about two years as a high school student on a small island in Micronesia called Pohnpei. Pam loves water sports, including SCUBA diving, snorkelling and kayaking but her awful balance means she’ll never touch a surf board. Ever...

NAMBOUR is one of the few places on the Sunshine Coast where the number of women diagnosed with female-specific cancers is higher than the state average.

Other areas including Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Noosa Heads and Alexandra Headland are either lower or similar to the state average.

On average, 160 women in every 100,000 are diagnosed with women's cancer statewide.

An atlas released this week to coincide with Pink Ribbon Day highlights disparities between Queensland regions in female cancer diagnoses including breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine.

In Nambour there are 13% more women than the state average living with a female-specific cancer.

Figures also show women with cancer living on the Sunshine Coast have a similar survival rate to the state average.

Cancer Council statistics show about 84% of Queensland women diagnosed with a women's cancer will survive for at least five years.

Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Nambour and Noosa Heads recorded lower rates, meaning women with cancer were surviving longer in those areas.

Cancer Council Queensland spokeswoman Katie Clift said rate differences in each area could be attributed to women moving to different areas along with access to screening and diagnostic services and environmental risk factors.

"Up to a third of all cancers are preventable," Ms Clift said. "It could be about people not taking necessary (steps) in their lifestyles."

She said startling statistics showed women in regional and remote areas were 42% more likely to die within five years of being diagnosed than those in urban areas.

In the heart of Brisbane, the number of women at risk of dying within five years is 14% lower than the state average.

Ms Clift said the fact that there was not one reason to explain why regional and remote areas were worse off proved more research was needed.

"It's really up for discussion. These are the risks and how can we reduce these risks moving forward?"

- APN NEWSDESK

On averge, 160 Queensland women in every 100,000 are diagnosed with a women's cancer

Caloundra (4551 postcode) has an 8% lower rate than the state average of women's cancer diagnosis

Mooloolaba (4557), Maroochydore (4558) and Noosa Heads (4567) are similar to state average

Nambour (4560) has a 13% higher rate than the state average

About 84% of Queensland women diagnosed with a women's cancer will survive for at least five years